Power-transmitting mechanism.



R. H. RICE 6v F. R. C. BOYD.

POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

90 1,473 Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Frederic F2 C Boy B R. H. RICE & F. R. C. BOYD.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

A1 PLIOATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

901,473, Patented 00t.20,1908.

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Witness@ s: nverwtOrS FreBcieric Q. CBCycl y/ygqttly R. H. RICE n P. R. G. BOYD.

POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANISM.

APrLIcATIoH FILED lun. 9, 190s.

Patented Oct. 2o, 1908.

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I nvenbors, Richard. +I. Fice.,l Frederic C. Boyd,

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R. HpRIG & P. R. o. BOYDf POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

Patented 0011.20, 1908. a4

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Wibnesses R. H. RICE L I. R. C. BOYD.

POWER TRANSMITTIN G MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1906.

901,473. Patented oct. 20, 1908.

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Fffgy' W S l' lnyeltors: ltnes e5 ,l RiChardHRce,

Y FredePicRC-BQyd #WWW www# -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

RICHARD H. RICE, oEswAMPsCOTT, AND FREDERIC R. C. BOYD, OF LYNN, MASsACHUsETTs, AssIGNORS To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

No. 901,473.l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application led Hatch 9, 1906. Serial No. 305,075.

oie-mechanisms wherein a motor, such as an elastic fluid turbine, is employed to drive a load through speed-reducing gearing, and

: has for its object to improve their construction.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of our invention, Figure 1 is a front` elevation of a turbinedriven centrifugal pump; Fig. 2is aside elevation of the same;.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the turbine and powertransmitting gearing; Fig. 4 is a cross-sec- `tion through the driving worm and incloscasing; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cooling coil for thelubricant; Fig. 6 is'a detail sectional view of the sleeve employed to take up the thrust on the worm and also to adjust it with respect to the worm wheel driven thereby; and Fig. 7 is a detail view Oi `a slight Inodication.

-1 represents a motor designed to run at` relatively high speed. In the present illustration it is shown as being a single-stage steam turbine of the Curtls type, but it could be a y.steam motor of any other construction, an/electric, hydraulic, driving -pulley,- or other mot'r. f

2 is the main shaftof the motor, Fig. 3,. which is geared. to the secondary or driven shaft 3 located at right angles thereto by suitable speed-reducing gearing, to be afterwards described. The secondary shaft is connected, to a rotary hydraulic pump/1: directl `or through a suitablecoupling. In-

'stea of driving a pump, any other suitable form of load maybe substituted. The pump or other load device is provided with suitable supports' whereby it can be mounted and alined with respect to the driving mechanism. preferred arrangement is' to provide a' bed-plate or frame 5that is commonto the turbine `and the driven parts,

since it simplifies theconstruction and facilitates alinement. The shafts are provided with suitable bearings and with the gears are I nclosed 1n suitable housings. The motor 1s bolted or otherwise secured to the frame which carries the bearings, etc. It is to be noted that the motor, the driving gears, etc., are so constructed and arranged that they form a self-contained unit which is capable of use with various -forms of apparatus. Such being the case the apparatus can be utilized for a variety of purposes and connected toand disconnected from the driven apparatus at will. It can also be shipped as a unit without danger of the parts getting out of alinement.

The turbine is overhung on the end of the main shaft, and the casing thereof is bolted to a shouldered portion 6 on the frame. Between the casing and the housing around the gears and other parts is a considerable space to revent heat being transmitted from the tur ine to the interior of the housing. Ad-

jacent to the turbine and Supported by the frame is a self-alining journal 7. At each end of the journal and engaging with collars on the shaft are roller thrust bearings 8. These bearings serve to center the rows Yof buckets on the wheel 9 with respect to the rows of vintermediate buckets 10 carried by the casing. It is important that this relation `be preserved under all conditions to prevent linjury to the buckets. At the right 'of the journal the shaft is provided with a small worm 11 of ordinary construction meshing with a worm wheel 12 carried by a small shaft 13 extending at right angles to the main'shaft. The shaft 13 isemployeld to drive a lubricating pump of the geartype, as will appearvlater. f

Splined' onthe main shaft so that it can be adjusted longitudinally thereof is a Hindleyworm 14. We prefer to use a Hindley -wormon account of the increased bearing surface between it and the teeth of the worm wheel, but under certain conditions a straight worm can be employed. Owing to the fact that the .Hindley worm is somewhat larger 'at the ends than 1n the center it must be accurately and independently adjusted on the shaft to aline it with the driven gear, and the bucket wheel must also be accurately adjusted with respect to the intermediates, special means are provided for the pur The diameter of the main shaft 1s somewhat reduced on the right-hand end to receive the Hindley Vworm 14. On therig'ht of the worm is a sleeve 15 by means of which it can be adjusted longitudinally. The sleeve also forms a part of the end-thrust device. It is preferable to make the worm and sleeve of separate pieces, but if desired they may be formed in a single piece. The worm and sleeve are both splined on the main shaft so\ as to turn therewith, at the same time permitting of longitudinal adjustment. The periphery of the sleeve is finished, and surrounding it is a bearing 16 carried by the tubular shell 17, the latter being detachably secured to the frame 5 by bolts. On the end ofthe sleeve is a thrust block 18 which may be formed integral therewith or separate as desired It is better to make it separate since it can be more readily removed in case of injury. The block is provided with a central chamber 19 to receive fluid under pressure, such as water or oil, and the periphery has one 'or more sharpened projections 2() that act as a means to prevent the fluid discharged from the chamber-19 from passing through the partition 21 into the chamber beyond. The sleeve is also provided with one or more annular projections 22 located in a second collection chamber which tend to prevent oil from the journal from entering the watercollecting chamber surrounding the thrust blocks. Any lubricant that works between the shaft and sleeve 15 will discharge into the chamber at the end of the shaft and be discharged through the radial openings in the sleeve.

Situated in line with the thrust block and containing a chamber registering with the chamber 19 is an adjustable block or abutment 23. The abutment is prevented from turning by the spline or feather 24, and is adjusted longitudinally by the adjusting screw 25. The said screw is bored centrally to receive 'the pipe 26, the latter discharging fluid under pressure to the chamber 19. We prefer to employ water for this purpose, and the structure shown is designed to take it from the city mains. Any other suitable source of pressure can, however, be employed if desired. The water flows between the blocks in the form of a thin film and .is collected in the surrounding chamber and discharged by the pipe 24. Vith this arrangement water is continuouslyy flowing which, in addition to lubricating the parts, serves to absorb the heat generated at this point, and also to reduce the temperature of the shell and other parts.

The shell carrying the right-hand journal and thrust bearing is provided with a curved projection or casing 28 which closely surrounds the driving worm, asy shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to keep a body of lubricant in contact therewith. The'inner wall of the part 28 is in close proximity to the worm, and as the latter rotates it coperates with said wall to distribute the lubricant over the teeth and keep their temperature well within the safe working limits, it being understood that the thrust at this point is large resulting in the generation of a good deal of heat which must be quickly and effectively dissipated to obtain satisfactory results. 'lhe projection is provided with a passage through which lubricant is `supplied to the worm and worm gear under pressure. The object of this arrangement is to absorb the heat generated by the friction between the teeth of theworm and worm gear. The direction of flow of the lubricant `is such that the rotation of the worm carries it against the teeth ofthe worm gear. Since there is a large amount of heat to be dissipated at this point, it is important that the supply of lubricant be abundant and also that it be constantly maintained. This is true whether al l'lindley or a straight worm or a pair of spiral gears is employed.l Situated above the worm and meshing therewith is a worm gear 29, the latter being mounted on the driven shaft 3. Surrounding the worm gear and bolted to the frame is a housing 30, the upper end of which is provided with an opening 31 to permit the heated air within the housing and frame to escape. The driven shaft 3 is supported by suitable journals 32 and 33 (Fig. 4) which are inclosed by the housing and are bolted to the upper part of the frame. The portions of the housing directly over the journals are provided with covered openings 34 through which the journals can be lubricated. Between one of the journals and the worm gear is a roller thrust bearing 35 which takes up the thrust on the gear due to the action of the worm. If desired this thrust bearing can be duplicated on the opposite side of the gear. On the end of the driven shaft is a coupling 3G for connecting the former to the centrifugal pump or other load. If desired, this coupling can be omitted.

The lubricating system for the gearing will now be described. On the outside of the frame and preferably, but not necessarily, formed integral therewith, is a pump casing 37 containing an ordinary gear pump of suitable construction. Instead of using a gear pump, any other suitable type of pump may be substituted. lV e prefer however to use a gear pump on account of its simplicity. The pump casing is provided with a removable cover 38 containing the necessary ports. The pump is driven by the main shaft 2 through the small worin 11, worm wheel 12 and shaft 13, Fig. 3, as previously described. The pump discharges into the pressure pipe 39 located at one side of the frame, and nfrom this is a pipe 40. Figs. 2 and 4, leading to theprojection 28 which'incloses the main driving worm. A .second pipe 41 extends under the driving shaft and frame to the right- 4hand journal 33, and a third pipe 42 to the left-hand journal 32. The left-hand maincomme pipe 44,4I4`ig. 2. llhe upper end of the presamount of surface.

sure pipe or header 39 is provided with a re- -lie valve' 45, and when this valve -`opens lulbricant is discharged through the pipe 46 finto 'the housing 30 from which it 4lows into the chamber in the frame. The lubricant discharged from lthe bearings and the worm isvcolll-ected ina drainage'chafrnber 47 formed in the frame or base 5.

Since there is la comparatively Ilarge I .amount of heat to rbe dissipated due tothe action -of the gears fa Water circulation `is provided for reducing the temperature of the lubricating' oiil. -chamber 47 inthe Iframe and below the main worm is a coil of pipe 48 of the form shown i-n Fig. 5. The turns of fthe coil are bent 'back and -forth to furnish the necessary In :order -to leave sufficient room for certain of the pump parts, some of the turns are made longer than fothers. The coil is so bent after forming that it follows the curved contour of vthe bott-om of the rc'hamber in the frame and iis supported at a distance from the Wall by thin curved strips to insure good circulation and facilitate cooling. To the lower end of the lchamber 47 is connected a ypipe 49 which in turn is connected #to a strainer 50. rilhe vl`strainer comprises an outer shell 51 and a fra-nie 52 that supports the screen 53. The strainer is provided with a removable head or plug which serves to hold the frame in place. Between the screen and the shell is a space through which the oil passes in entering the pipe 54, the latter being lconnected to the suction side off the pump.' It

will thus be Vseen 'that the lubricating o il is used over Iand over again, and' that it is fcooled while in the collection chamber 47 .and also strained beffore rentering the pump. 4

vIn Figs. '2 and 5 .are shown the in'let and exhaust 'pipes and 56' for 'conveying cooling Water to and from thezcoolin'g coil 48.

desired angle with respect to each other.

Where the end thrust on the driving shaft is not excessive we may use a plain multiple roller bearing, such as is shown in Fig. 7, in place of the water-lubricated thrust bearing shown in Fig.

Referring to Fig. 7, 17 represents the shell which contains the bearing for supporting In the bottom of the lubricant to the geerlng, and

inside of the bore of the shell and inclosingthe shaft is asleeve 15 for adjusting or fixl ing the position of the worm or the shaft or both. On the end of the sleeve is a hardened ring held 'by dowel pins. .Coperating with the ring are rollers '61 and between the sets of rollers and at theend are rings l62, the planes of which are transverse to the shaft axis. The end ring is engaged by the screw 25, the latter being mounted in the head of "the shell. The head of the shell isprovided with a cylindrical extension 64 which supportsthe rings and holds the rollers against outward movement. The rollers are held against inward movement by sui-table means such as the fiat rin-gs 65. is provided with one or more holes 66 to permit lubricant in the surrounding chamber in 'the shell to enter and lubricate the rollers. When ya straight worm is fusedinstead ofthe Hindley, it Amay be mounted solidly on the shaft, and thelongitudinal adjustment taken care of "by the adjustable thrust bearing shown.

When the turbine is mounted on a separate support instead of being 4attached to the frame supporting the shjait 2, we can mount the Worm,- Which may be straight or of the Hindley typesolid1y onthe shaft. In this case it; would be .preferable to insert a the shaft 2 and the thrust bearing. Located I The extension 64 flexible'1 coupling ibetween the turbine andv the shaft 2.

'Inacc'dance the provisions fof the patent statutes, we Vhave described the .principle of operation -of our invention, together with the apparatus which we nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but we desire it to -be understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means. l

What We 'claim 4as new and deslre to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- l

1. In an apparatuswof the character described., thel combination of :a motor, a shaft driven thereby, a secondary or 'driven shaft, .gearing between the shafts,-a bea-ring for resy -ceiving the thrust of the gearing :on the motor-driven shaft comprising means for adjusting the gear upon said shaft, and a conduit for introducing fluid under pressure to the thrust bearing and continuously maina thrust 'bearing for the motor-driven shaft,4

a 'conduit forintroducing lubricant under pressure to' the thrust bearing and contin- -uouslyJmaintaining .a Huid film between its blocks, one or more conduits for introducing means lfor pre# venting the lubricant delivered to the gearing and the thrust bearings from mingling.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame or support, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a gear splined on the driving shaft, a gear on the driven shaft meshing therewith, a sleeve for longitudinally adjusting the gear on the driving shaft, a bearing block carried by the sleeve, an adjustable block carried by the frame or support, and a conduit'for introducing fluid under pressure between the blocks and maintaining a fluid film therebetween.

4l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame or support, a driving shaft mounted thereon, a driven shaft, a gearing for transmitting motion from the driving to the driven shaft, a casing inclosing one of the gears to keep a body of lubricant in contact therewith for lubricating and cooling purposes, there being' an opening in the top of the casing through which the other gear projects to mesh with the first gear, a conduit for supplying lubricant to the casing, and means for forcing lubricant through the conduit and casing.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame or support, a driving shaft, a worm and worm wheelfor transmitting motion from the driving to the driven s haft, a shell mounted on the frame which surrounds the shaft and supports'one end thereof, a casing or projection carried by the shell which incloses the worm to keep lubricant in vcontact therewith for lubricating and cooling purposes, there being an opening in the casing for thc worm gear to pass through into engagement with the worm, and a conduit for supplying lubricant to the casing or projection.

6. In an apparatusof the character described, the combination of a frame or support, a'driving shaft mountedv thereon, a. driven shaft, a worm and worm wheel for transmitting motion from `the driving to the driven shaft, a shell which surrounds the shaft, a casing or projection carried by the shellwhich incloses the worm to keep lubricant in contact therewith for lubricating and cooling purposes, a conduit for supplying lubricant to the casing or projection, a bearing for the shaft supported by the shell, and means for adjusting the worm longitudinally of the shaft and shell.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a motor having a rotating element, a shaft driven thereby, a bearing for the shaft, means for preventing longitudinal thrust on the shaftfrom being transmitted to the said rotating element, a driven shaft at right angles to the driving shaft, a longitudinally movable wormon the motor-driven shaft, a worm Wheel secured to the driven shaft,a sleeve on the shaft, a

thrust block carried by the sleeve, and an adjustable thrust block engaging with the first whereby the worm may be adjusted on its shaft.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, worm gearing between the shafts, a means for adjusting the position of the worm and worm wheel with respect to each other, a means for discharging lubricant over the face of the worm, a base for supporting the shafts which contains a chamber to receive the lubricant after it is used, and a cooling coil located inthe chamber.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft, gearing between the shafts, a shell for supporting the driving shaft and containing a cylinder and a collection chamber, a longitudinally adjustable bearing block in the cylinder, a second block opposing the first, the lubricant' from the blocks discharging into the collection chamber, a bearing carried by the shell, and7 a second chamber formed in the shell and separated from the first to receive lubricant exhausting from the bearing.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a base or frame, a driving shaft carried thereby, a driven shaft at right angles to the first, bearings for the driven shaft also carried by the frame and located above the driving shaft, gearing between the shafts; a fluid-pressure thrust bearing between the. driving shaft and -a fixed abutment, and a second thrust bearing between the driven shaft and a fixed abutment.

1l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a driving and a driven shaft, journals, for the shafts, gearing between the shafts, a worm on one ofthe shafts, a worm wheel driven thereby, a pump driven by the worm gearing, conduits for conveying lubricant from the pump to the gearing to lubricate it and dissipate heat, and also to the journals, means for returning the lubricant to the source of supply for the l pump, and a device for cooling the returning lubricant.

12. In an apparatus of the character scribed, the combination of a motor, a shaft driven thereby, a bearing arranged to take the thrust thereof, other bearings for supporting the motor-driven shaft, a frame for supporting the bearings, a second suitablyu supported shaft, gearing for transmitting motion from one shaft to the other, and means for supplying lubricant under pressure to the bearings and the gearing. 13. In 'an apparatus of the character described, tlie combination of a motor, a shaft driven thereby, a worm slidably mounted on the shaft and driven thereby, a frame, a bearing supporting one end of the shaft, a

bearing for the other end of the shaft, a In Witness whereof, We'have hereunto setl shell supporting said bearing and attached our hands this sixth day of March, 1906.

to the frame, a thrust-bearing carried by the RICHARD H. RICE.- shell which receives the thrust of the Worm, FREDERIC R. C. BOYD.

5 a second suitably supported shaft, and gear- Witnesses:

ing for transmitting motion from the worm JOHN, A. MoMANUs, Jr.,

to the second shaft. HENRY O. WESTENDARP. 

